Ships

Abstract

The aim is to provide a vessel that can handle multiple applications with a single unit and allows for easy switching between equipment. [Solution] The vessel 1 can switch between and install a first cartridge 30A and a second cartridge 30B within a single hull 2. Therefore, one vessel 1 can handle multiple uses. Furthermore, the first cartridge 30A has a first device 31A used for the first use, and the second cartridge 30B has a second device 31B used for the second use. Therefore, by simply switching cartridges on the hull 2, the equipment can be easily changed according to the use. As described above, one vessel can handle multiple uses, and equipment can be easily switched.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a ship.

Background Art

[0002] As a ship, there is known one that pays out a cable from the hull and lays the cable underwater (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Here, there are a plurality of types of cables to be laid. For example, when laying a power line, a ship dedicated to the power line is used, and when laying a communication line, a ship dedicated to the communication line is used. Thus, when the type of cable changes, a plurality of dedicated ships are required. On the other hand, when attempting to lay a power line and a communication line on a common ship, operations such as equipment replacement are necessary, and there is a problem that the replacement operation takes time.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a ship that can be switched and mounted on a single hull and has a first cartridge having a first device used for a first application and a second cartridge having a second device used for a second application.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The ship according to the present invention can be switched and mounted on a single hull with a first cartridge having a first device used for a first application and a second cartridge having a second device used for a second application.

[0007] The vessel according to the present invention can be equipped with a first cartridge and a second cartridge, which can be switched on and off within a single hull. Therefore, one vessel can be used for multiple purposes. Furthermore, the first cartridge has first equipment used for the first purpose, and the second cartridge has second equipment used for the second purpose. As a result, the equipment can be easily changed according to the purpose simply by switching the cartridge on the hull. Thus, one vessel can be used for multiple purposes, and the equipment can be easily switched.

[0008] The primary use may be the laying of power lines, and the secondary use may be the laying of communication lines. In this case, a single vessel can perform both power line laying and communication line laying. Furthermore, the vessel can easily switch the necessary equipment depending on the type of cable.

[0009] The first and second devices may include cable feeders. The cable feeder needs to be changed depending on the type of cable. By switching cartridges, the cable feeder can be changed to one that corresponds to the type of cable.

[0010] Ships may be equipped with fixing devices that are secured to the hull. In this case, devices that can be used with the same type of cable may be used as fixing devices.

[0011] A ship may be equipped with detachable additional components for its fixed equipment when switching between its first and second uses. In this case, the fixed equipment can function appropriately with the additional components depending on the intended use. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vessel that can handle multiple applications with a single unit and that allows for easy switching of equipment. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1]This is a schematic plan view showing an example of a vessel according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] (a) is a side view of a ship equipped with the first cartridge, and (b) is a side view of a ship equipped with the second cartridge. [Figure 3] This is a side view showing how the cartridge is installed. [Figure 4] This diagram shows a sheave, a ring-shaped member that guides power lines. [Figure 5] This diagram shows a sheave, a ring-shaped member that guides communication lines. [Figure 6] This figure shows a sheave with a guide surface. [Figure 7] This is a side view showing a modified vessel. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the terms "front" and "rear" correspond to the direction of travel of the ship, the terms "left" and "right" correspond to the width direction of the ship when viewed from the rear to the front, and the terms "up" and "down" correspond to the vertical direction of the ship.

[0015] Figure 1 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a vessel according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 is a view of vessel 1 from above. Vessel 1 is a vessel that carries cable 50. Vessel 1 carries cables related to an offshore substation. In offshore wind power generation, wind energy captured by a wind turbine is sent to an offshore substation and converted into electrical energy. The offshore substation collects electricity and transmits it to onshore substations using power lines laid on the seabed. Communication lines are also used as cables that enable intercontinental communication. Vessel 1, which has equipment for carrying and transporting cables, is used for the installation work of these power lines, communication lines, and other cables.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the ship 1 has a hull 2 having a longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction. The hull 2 has a front end 2a, a rear end 2b, a right end 2c, and a left end 2d. Further, an upper deck 8 extending in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction is provided on the upper end side of the hull 2. Note that a structure 3 (also see FIG. 2) extending upward is provided on the front end side of the hull 2. The structure 3 has a living area and the like. Note that the structure of the hull 2 is not limited to this form.

[0017] The ship 1 includes a storage unit 10, a pay-out device 11, a sheave 12, a crane 13, and an underwater robot handling device 14. The storage unit 10, the pay-out device 11, the sheave 12, the crane 13, and the underwater robot handling device 14 are provided on the upper deck 8 of the hull 2.

[0018] The storage unit 10 is a device for storing the cable 50 in a wound state. As the storage unit 10, a carousel that stores the cable 50 and pays out the cable 50 by automatically rotating may be adopted. Alternatively, a cable tank for storing the cable 50 may be adopted as the storage unit 10. The storage unit 10 is provided at a substantially central position in the left-right direction of the upper deck 8. The storage unit 10 is provided on the rear side of the structure 3. Note that the position of the storage unit 10 is not particularly limited and can be changed as appropriate. The storage unit 10 has an annular outer peripheral wall 10a and an annular inner peripheral wall 10b centered on the center line CL. The bundle 51 of the wound cable 50 is stored in the space between the outer peripheral wall 10a and the inner peripheral wall 10b. The stored cable 50 is fed out from the storage unit 10 toward the stern side via, for example, a loading arm 16 that guides the cable to the pay-out device.

[0019] The cable payout device 11 is a device that pays out the cable 50 from the storage unit 10. The cable payout device 11 is provided at a position spaced rearward from the storage unit 10. In the present embodiment, the ship 1 has a pair of cable payout devices 11 provided side by side left and right. The cable payout device 11 has a tensioner, a linear cable engine, and a drum cable engine. The tensioner is a device for maintaining an appropriate tension when laying the cable 50. The tensioner holds the cable using a plurality of rollers and clamps and controls the tension. The linear cable engine is a device that pays out and winds up the cable 50 at a constant speed. The drum cable engine is a device that pulls out the cable 50 from a large drum and pulls it up onto the drum.

[0020] The sheave 12 is a mechanism that guides the paid-out cable 50 out from the rear end portion 2b of the hull 2 and into the sea. The sheave 12 is provided at the rear end portion 2b of the hull 2. In the present embodiment, the ship 1 has a pair of sheaves 12 provided side by side left and right. The shape of the sheave 12 is not particularly limited as long as it can guide the cable 50. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, it may have an annular member 20 and may have a shape that guides the cable 50 at its outer peripheral edge portion. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the sheave 12 may have a shape having a guide surface 21 that extends downward from the rear end portion 2b of the hull 2 toward the water.

[0021] Crane 13 is a device for performing cargo handling operations on the upper deck 8. Crane 13 can move the cable 50 when it is being laid. The placement of crane 13 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment it is located near the rear end 2b and near the left end 2d. The underwater robot handling device 14 is a device that uses an underwater robot (ROV) to lower an underwater robot into the water and raise it up to monitor whether the cable 50 has been laid properly. In this embodiment the underwater robot handling device 14 is located near the rear end 2b and near the right end 2c. The underwater robot handling device 14 has a gantry-shaped member, and a wire from the gantry-shaped member is connected to the underwater robot. This allows the underwater robot handling device 14 to monitor the cable laid in the water by lowering the underwater robot into the water, and also to raise the underwater robot out of the water using the wire.

[0022] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the vessel 1 according to this embodiment can switch between and mount a first cartridge 30A having a first device 31A used for a first purpose and a second cartridge 30B having a second device 31B used for a second purpose, both within a single hull 2. The first device 31A and the second device 31B include a cable feed device 11 for feeding out the cable 50. The first device 31A and the second device 31B also include a storage section 10 for storing the cable 50. The first cartridge 30A and the second cartridge 30B have a base portion 32 for fixing the cable feed device 11 and the storage section 10. The base portion 32 is a member for fixing the cable feed device 11 and the storage section 10 together. The cable feed device 11 and the storage section 10 are fixed to the upper surface of the base portion 32.

[0023] As shown in Figure 2(a), the first application is the laying of power lines 50A. Therefore, the first cartridge 30A has a first device 31A for laying power lines 50A. As shown in Figure 2(b), the second application is the laying of communication lines 50B. Therefore, the second cartridge 30B has a second device 31B for laying communication lines 50B. Power lines 50A are thicker cables 50 than communication lines 50B. Different devices are used for the first device 31A and the second device 31B depending on the type of cable 50. The dispensing device 11 for the first cartridge 30A and the dispensing device 11 for the second cartridge 30B have different models because they can dispense different diameters of cables 50. The dispensing device 11 for the first cartridge 30A is a model that can dispense thick power lines 50A. The dispensing device 11 for the second cartridge 30B is of a type that can dispense thin communication wires 50B. The storage compartment 10 for the first cartridge 30A and the storage compartment 10 for the second cartridge 30B have different types because they can store different diameters of cables 50. The storage compartment 10 for the first cartridge 30A is of a type that can store thick power wires 50A. The storage compartment 10 for the second cartridge 30B is of a type that can store thin communication wires 50B. Note that the storage compartment 10 may be designed for both power wires and communication wires.

[0024] A cartridge is a group of devices that combines the equipment to be replaced. Specifically, a cartridge is a unit in which, when installed, the base portion 32 is attached to the upper deck 8 of the hull 2, allowing the storage unit 10 and the dispensing device 11 to be attached to the hull 2 ​​together, and when removed, the base portion 32 is removed from the upper deck 8 of the hull 2, allowing the storage unit 10 and the dispensing device 11 to be removed from the hull 2 ​​together. When attaching the base portion 32 to the upper deck 8, the base portion 32 is attached to the upper deck 8 in a manner that allows for removal. As an attachment method, for example, fastening means using bolts or mechanical engagement means can be used. For example, attachment methods that require destruction to remove the base portion 32 from the upper deck 8, such as welding, are not adopted as methods for attaching cartridges. As shown in Figure 3, when laying power lines 50A in a state where no cartridge is attached to the upper deck 8 of the hull 2, the first cartridge 30A is attached to the upper deck 8. When laying communication line 50B while no cartridge is installed on the upper deck 8 of hull 2, the second cartridge 30B is installed on the upper deck 8.

[0025] The vessel 1 is equipped with fixed equipment 40 that are fixed to the hull 2. The fixed equipment 40 is equipment that is used without switching even when switching between the first and second uses. That is, the same equipment 40 is used for laying regardless of the type of cable 50. The fixed equipment 40 is not equipment that is intended to be frequently attached and detached, like the base portion 32 of the cartridges 30A and 30B. Therefore, the fixed equipment 40 is fixed to the hull 2 ​​by a fixing method that is more difficult to attach and detach than the mounting means of the base portion 32. The fixed equipment 40 may be fixed to the upper deck 8 by welding or a strong fastening structure. As shown in Figure 1, the sheave 12, crane 13, and underwater robot handling device 14 are fixed to the hull 2 ​​as fixed equipment 40.

[0026] In ship 1, additional components can be attached to and detached from the fixing equipment 40 when switching between the first and second uses. In other words, in ship 1, additional components can be attached to and detached from the fixing equipment 40 depending on the type of cable 50 to be laid. Specifically, depending on the type of cable 50 to be laid, a guide member 42 can be attached to and detached from the sheave 12, which is the fixing equipment 40.

[0027] Figure 4 shows how the sheave 12 of the annular member 20 guides the thick power line 50A. Figure 4(a) is a perspective view of the sheave 12, and Figure 4(b) is a view of the sheave 12 from the rear. Existing guides 41 of the sheave 12 are provided on both edges of the outer circumferential surface 20a of the sheave 12. When the sheave 12 guides the thick power line 50A, the sheave 12 guides the power line 50A using only the guides 41, without providing any additional members to the outer circumferential surface 20a.

[0028] Figure 5 shows how the sheave 12 of the annular member 20 guides a thin communication wire 50B. Figure 5(a) is a perspective view of the sheave 12, and Figure 5(b) is a view of the sheave 12 from the rear. When the sheave 12 guides the thin communication wire 50B, an additional pair of guide members 42 are provided on the outer circumferential surface 20a of the sheave 12. The pair of guide members 42 are provided between a pair of guides 41. As a result, the sheave 12 guides the communication wire 50B between the pair of guide members 42 on the outer circumferential surface 20a. These guide members 42 are detachable from the outer circumferential surface 20a of the sheave 12.

[0029] Figure 6(a) shows how a sheave 12 having a guide surface 21 guides a thick power line 50A. Figure 6(a) is a view of the sheave 12 from the rear. Existing guides 43 are provided on both edges of the upper guide surface 21a of the sheave 12. When the sheave 12 guides the thick power line 50A, the sheave 12 guides the power line 50A using only the guides 43, without providing any additional members to the upper guide surface 21a.

[0030] Figure 6(b) shows how a sheave 12 having a guide surface 21 guides a thin communication wire 50B. Figure 6(b) is a view of the sheave 12 from the rear. Figure 6(c) is an enlarged view of the area near the upper guide surface 21a. When the sheave 12 guides the thin communication wire 50B, an additional pair of guide members 44 are provided on the upper guide surface 21a of the sheave 12. The pair of guide members 44 are provided between a pair of guides 43. As a result, the sheave 12 guides the communication wire 50B between the pair of guide members 44 on the upper guide surface 21a. These guide members 44 are detachable from the upper guide surface 21a of the sheave 12.

[0031] Next, the operation and effects of the vessel 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0032] In this embodiment, the vessel 1 can be equipped with a first cartridge 30A and a second cartridge 30B, which can be switched on and off within a single hull 2. Therefore, one vessel 1 can accommodate multiple uses. Furthermore, the first cartridge 30A has a first device 31A used for the first use, and the second cartridge 30B has a second device 31B used for the second use. Therefore, by simply switching cartridges on the hull 2, the equipment can be easily changed according to the intended use. As described above, one vessel can accommodate multiple uses, and equipment can be easily switched.

[0033] The first use may be the laying of power lines 50A, and the second use may be the laying of communication lines 50B. In this case, one vessel 1 can lay both power lines 50A and communication lines 50B. Furthermore, the vessel 1 can easily switch the necessary equipment depending on the type of cable 50.

[0034] The first device 31A and the second device 31B may include a cable feeder 11 that feeds out the cable 50. The cable feeder 11 needs to be changed depending on the type of cable 50. By switching cartridges, the cable feeder 11 corresponding to the type of cable 50 can be changed.

[0035] The vessel 1 may be equipped with fixing devices 40 that are fixed to the hull 2. In this case, any device that can be used regardless of the type of cable 50 can be used as the fixing device 40.

[0036] The vessel 1 may be capable of attaching and detaching additional components (guide members 42, 44, etc.) to the fixed equipment 40 when switching between the first and second uses. In this case, the fixed equipment 40 can function appropriately with the additional components depending on the use.

[0037] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

[0038] For example, the equipment installed in the cartridge is not limited to the embodiments described above. For instance, as shown in Figure 7, the storage unit 10 may be installed on the hull 2 ​​as a fixed device 40. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1...Ship, 2...Hull, 11...Dispensing equipment, 30A...First cartridge, 30B...Second cartridge, 31A...First equipment, 31B...Second equipment, 40...Fixed equipment.

Claims

1. A ship capable of switching between and installing, within a single hull, a first cartridge having first equipment for first use and a second cartridge having second equipment for second use.

2. The primary use is the laying of power lines. The vessel according to claim 1, wherein the second use is the laying of communication lines.

3. The vessel according to claim 1, wherein the first and second devices include a cable feeder for feed out cables.

4. The vessel according to claim 1, comprising fixing devices that are fixed to the hull.

5. The vessel according to claim 1, wherein additional members can be attached to and detached from the fixed equipment when switching between the first use and the second use.

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